Machine for making friction elements



Aug. 27, 1935. H. N. SMITH 2,012,333

MACHINE FOR MAKING FRICTION ELEMENTS Filed Nov. l0, 1932 E 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935. H, sMlTH 2,012,833.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FRICTION ELEMENTS Filed Nov. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .99 ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935 H. N. SMlTH MACHINE FOR MAKING FRICTION ELEMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. lO, 1932 ilk- R N\ 68g 55 INVE TOR M144 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 27, 1935 r Y 2,012,833:

UNITED STATES PATENTOF'FICE I MACHINE FOR MAKING FRICTION ELEMENTS Harry N, Smith, Detroit, Mich assignor to American Brakeblok Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application November 10, 1932,1Seriallflo. 641,951

This invention relates to a machine adapted for prevent distortion; and which will be simple"; and M use in the manufacture of friction elements or the economical in construction and efficient and posilike. tive in operation. 7

Friction elements are sometimes made by pass- A selected embodiment of i the invention is il-"- ingcomposition friction material between a pair lustrated in the accompany drawings w e e of forming rolls which compact the material and 1 is a op p ViW; a unite it with a reenforcing back fed to the rolls Fig. 2 5a f a me y t a sv se s ct al v ew simultaneously with the material. The time'the taken substa t a y n the e OHFig; material is subjected to compression islimited a V al Sectional w a n ub m1 since the area of contact with the rolls is necesstantially 0n the l on 01 sarily restricted and the material sometimes tends F g. 4 is a fragmenta y transverse t nal to swell after passing between the rolls with the View taken substantiallyon the line 4 4'0n Fig. 3; result'that the density of the element is less than Fi 5 is a nd V w- Substantially h the desired and the thickness of the element is greate 5-- r er than intended. This tendency to swell in- Fig; 6 is a perspective detail view of a forming 15; creases substantially in direct proportion to the shoe; a 1 thickness of the element; One of the important g. s a w taken Substantiallyoh theline objects of this invention is to prolong the time 1 0n F 0 v the material is subjected to compression to avoid "Fig. 8- is a view taken subsfiantia y'dn the line the tendency of the material to swell after pass 88 on F g. r w I 1 2Q ing'th-rough the bight'of the rolls. Fig. 9 is a view taken substantially 11 the line The friction elements produced by passing 99 on Fi a l r r composition friction material and a reenforcing 10 is?"perspectivedet'illVieW Ofaiypical back between forming rolls are flat, such elefriction elementcompacted'and curvedinthe ma ments, however, are used with arcuate surfaces chine; I

as, for example, cylindrical brake drums, and to In the preferred form of invention illustrated insure uniform and substantial contact it is necin the accompanying drawings I show a. machine essary that the elements be curved correspondingadapted to compress and curve friction elements ly to the surfaces with which they are to be used. made in another machine as," f p the Thin elements canbe so curved; either with the kind shown in either of my co-pending applica reenforcing back on the inside or on the outside tions Serial No. 402,100 file'd'October 24,'1929;-no'w of the curve without detrimentally affecting the Patent No. 1,907,600, patented May' 9,1933, or friction surface of the element, which is opposite Serial" No. 491,375, filed October 27', 1930, now 7 the back but when thick elements are curved, par- Patent No. 1,920,023; patented July 5,1933. How-=- ticularly with the back on the inside of the curve, ever, it is to be understood that composition fric 35,

there is a tendency to crack or otherwise damage tion material might be united with a. reenforcing the friction surface of the element. Another imback in the machine tothe'reby produce th'efric portant object of my invention is to curve fric i non-element in this machine without departingtion elements without detriment to the friction from the purview'of my invention. 1 surfaces thereof and particularly relatively thick The'machine has a frame including a table friction elements. An ancillary object is to iron 12 which is 'preferably elongated, as indicated at or similarly treat the friction'surfaces' of the elel3, so that a; plurality of'friction' elements 14 "can ments to enhance the friction, wear-resisting, and be arranged thereon one'behindthe other to be other similar properties thereof. successively fed to the operating rolls inthe Further objects are to provide anovelmamachine. The frame-includes'sideframe mem chine wherein composition friction material may hers i5 and I6 having bearings l'! and "I8 therein be compacted and united with the'reenforcing in which a shaftlS is journaleds This shaft' is back or wherein previously formed friction eleheld against endwise displacement by collars 20 merits may be compressed and also curved as reand 2! pinned or otherwise fastened to the shaft quired; wherein the friction elements may be opand respectively located to engage the inner ends 5. eratd on without forming fins on the edges or 'o'f'the bearings I1 and I8. A hub 22 is keyed otherwise impairing their serviceability; wherein to the shaft 19 in juxtaposition to the bearing l8; the machineparts may be expeditiouslyadjusted A drum 23 'is' disposed about the hub 22 and is to accommodate elements of various sizes; where-v connected thereto by four'spokes 24, 25, 26 and 5 in the-machine parts are effectively reenforcedto 21. A web 28' is-positionedmedially in the exr a Web 30 is similarly located between the spokes 25 and 26 while a web 3| is similarly located between the spokes 2 5 and 21. I

Blocks .32, 33, 34, and 35 are mounted at the end of the drum -23 adjacentthebearing ll. A

sleeve-36 is provided which has spaced keyways in the inner surface thereof to receive the blocks 32 to 35, inclusive. A peripheral flange 3'! is provided at the inner end of the sleevev 36 and a peripheral flange 31' is provided on the drum 23 atrthe endthereof juxtaposed to the bearing l8, and these flanges are adapted to engage the side edges'of friction elements moving over the drum 23. Inasmuch as friction elements of different widths are to be operatedon in themachine, I arrange the sleeve to be adjustable relative to the flange 31 whereby the space between the-flanges 31 and 31" may be varied. The engagernent of the blocks 32 to 35,; inclusive, in the keyways in the inner surface of the sleeve 36' connectsithis sleeve to the drum for rotative movement therewith and axial movement thereof.

A plate 38 is secured to the end ofthe sleeve 360pposite the flange 31 and this plate has an axial'opening therein through which asleeve 39embracing the shaft 19 is extended. A hand wheel 49 is slidably keyed'on the sleeve 39 outwardly of the-plate '38 and a handnutAl is screwethreadedly mounted on the sleeve outwardly of the hand wheel. A peripheral flange 42'is provided at the inner end of the sleeve 39 and a geari43 is secured to thisvflange and. is disposed about the sleeve, a washer 44 being interposed :between the'gear 43' and the plate 38.

When the hand nut 4| is run inwardlythe hand Wheel 49 is forced toward;theplate 38 in one direction and the peripheral flange-42, gear 43,

and washer 44' are drawn toward the'plate in' the opposite direction and theseparts are thereagainst'displacement by retainer plates suchas 48. bolted or otherwisefastened to the bearing blocksi41.. The bearing blocks have screw threaded axial bores through which the threaded portionsiof the shafts'49, 59, 5!, and 52 are fitted. and the other ends of these shafts are journaled in'anti-frictionbearings such as 53, mounted in theplate 38." A gear 55-.is fast on the shaft 59 adjacent the bearing 53. therefor and this gear meshes with the gear 43 and gears 54, 56, and 51' are similarly andrrespectively' arranged on the shafts 49, 5|,and 52. I Nuts,xsuch as 53', on the ends of the shafts 49 to 52', inclusive, cooperate with the gears'on' these'shafts so that one race of each of theanti-friction bearings is clamped between the gear'and the nutonthe shaft journaled in .the'bearingand inthis way the plate 38 and the'sleeve 36 are connected to shafts for axial movement therewith. I-I'e'nce; when the sleeve 39 and therefore the gear 43 are rotated, the gears 54 to 51' are also rotated as well as the shafts I 49 to 52. The'screw-threa'ded connection between these shafts andthe bearing blocks 41 provides what is in effect a nut and bolt arrangement and therefore the shafts 49 to'52, inclusive, tend to -move endwise relative to the bearing blocks 41,

which are carried by the drum 23, whereupon the sleeve 35 and the flange 31 are moved axially over the drum 23 relative to the flange 37'.

The drum 23 and the flanges 31 and 31 constitute the lower operating roll which is adapted to cooperate with the upper operating roll 58 keyed to the shaft 59. The Width of the upper roll 58 corresponds to the width of the friction elements to be operated on in the machine and in operation of the machine the edges of the roll 58 neatly fit between the flanges 31 and 31, as

illustrated in" Fig. 2, the space between the peripheries of the drum 23 and the roll 58 determining the thickness of the friction element.

I It is essential that the edges of the drum 58 neatly fit between the flanges to eliminate the formation of fins or the likeon the edges of the friction elements. Hence, each time a different width friction element is to be operated on in the machine the upper roll 58 is changed so that it will be of a width corresponding to the Width of, the

- element and the flange 3'! is adj ed el ve to slid to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereupon the roll 58 may be detached from the key 58' and be removed from the shaft. Then the new rollis'securedinposition by the key 58' and the end of the shaft 59 is reinserted'into the bearing 6| whereupon the collar 59' is again secured to. the shaft,-and this collar in cooperation with the washer 59' and the gear at the end of the shaft, which will be described morefully hereinafter, holds the shaft 59 against endwise movement in the bearings B and 6!. The shaft 59 carrying the upper roll 58 is journaled in adjustable bearings, mounted in the side frame members l -and l6, and generally indicated by 50 and 61 The adjustable bearing 69 is illusi trated-in detailin Fig. '7 and the adjustable bearing-6| is identical therewith. An opening 62 is provided adjacent the ,upper end'of the side frame member [5 and the adjustable bearing 60 is mounted in this opening. This adjustable 'bearing'includes upper and lower bearing blocks 63'and 64 having cooperating recesses in the abutting faces thereof embracing the shaft 59. Plates 63' and 64' (Fig.2) are secured to the blocks 63 and 64 at opposite ends thereof andengage the sides of the side frame member 15 and prevent displacement of the blocks from the opening 62 but afford sliding movement of the blocks through the opening. The lower face of the bearing block 64 is'tapered as indicated at 65 and a block 66 having a tapered upper surface engages this tapered surface 65. An adjusting bolt 61 is mounted in the side frame member I5 and extends through a threadedbore in the block 55. By rotating'the adjusting bolt'61, the block 66 may be moved alongthe tapered surface 65 and therefor-e the bearing blocks 63- and ,64' may be adjusted vertically in the opening 62- which causes the shaft 59 to move relative to the shaft l9. A gauge block 58 is provided inthe upper endof the opening 62 and engages the block 63 to force this block and the block 54 toward the tapered block 65 to thereby tightly secure the blocks in the opening. The thickness of the gauge'block 68 7 corresponds to the desired thickness of f the friction elementJ. Hence, to determine the space between the periphery of the drum 23 andthe roll 58 a gauge: block' of predetermined size is selected and inserted in position a'nd then the adjustable block is moved along the taperedsun.

face 65 to wedge the blocks in the opening. Since such: adjustable arrangements are provided in the' journals' for the shaft 59, it: is apparentthat accurate-spacing'ofthe roll 58afromthe drum 23 V from the table I2 andembodies a horizontal part 70 that is-disposed above the shaft 59; A block 'H- isconnected: to an adjusting bolt 12 screwthreadedly mounted in the part 10 and by manipulation of the bolt I2 the'proper position of the;

block 'll topreventwarping of the shaft 59 is determined and then the lock nut 13" is tightened to hold the bolt 12 in position I On the top of the table I2 and particularly on the elongated part l3'thereof and adjacent the forward edge I'secure a flanged guide rail 13. The forward end of this rail engages one edge of the roll 58; said roll being positioned on'the shaft 59 to-insure the engagement of the edge of the'roll with this rail. Inasmuch as friction elements of different'width are to* be operated" on in the machine I provide anadjustable flanged guide rail 14 adapted for cooperation withthe guide rail 13 to provide aguidewaythrough which thefriction elements may passto the operating rolls." Two pairs of guide strips 15 are secured on r the top-of the elongated part 13 of the table, and bars 16 connected to the guidera'il 14 are extended between the stripsloftheipairs; of guide strips 15" and have thumb screws '11; secured thereto, said thumb screws projecting through slots 18 in the part 13 and, when'tightened, engage thebottom of said part toclampthe. bars in place. By loosening the thumb screws Tl, the bars 16 maybe moved between the guide strips 15 whereupon the guide rail 14 maybe adjusted rel'ativeto the guide rail 13 sothatthe spacing between these'railswill correspond. to thewidth of the friction elements to be operated .on in the machine. Theguiderail 14 engages the edge of the roll 58 opposite thatengagedby. the rail 1-3 and this end of the guide rail isheld in; position by a thumb screw-I9 includi'nga head mounted in the slot 8| in the table [2. 'In order to effectively guide the friction elements tothe operating rolls I provide aplate 82"at the forward end of the guideway between the guide rails 13 and 14. The underside at the forward end of the guide plate 82 is curved to neatly .fit the periphery of the drum'23 and; as b-est'illustrated in Fig.4, the plate 82 corresponds to the width'of the roll 58. This plate 82 is connected by a dovetail key and slot to a strip 83, secured in position by theguide rail 73. The opposite edge ofthe plate 82is similarly connected to a block 84 held in position by the guidestrip 14 and the thumb screw l9'which passes throughthe block. I At the time the roll 58 is changed/the plate 82 is likewise changedjthe. block 84f being adjusted to receive -the:.new: plate. In this way. accurateJguiding and full support of the friction elements passing. to the operating rolls is assured. 1' ,i Where the friction elements are formed pre viously to.:being passed into thisgmachineitheyv may bemade slightly thicker 'than'the' intended size andtherefore as these elements'pass'bee tween the operating rolls they are. additionally.

compressedwhich increases the density thereof and improves the friction, wear-,resistingpzand ments. Furthermore", the friction elementsare usually flat but sincethey are to be used infcon'r' nection with arcuate surfaces means are provided in this "machinetocurve' the friction elements to correspond to the arcuate surface with. which they are to be used; This same means cooperates with the operatingrollsfto prevent swellingof:

the elements after passage thereof betweenfthe' rolls where theyiarecomp'ressed, and it alsoqirons the elements to improve the friction surface; The

' nie'ans'referred to 'consists of a forming shoei-85 illustrated in detail in Fig. 6.- This forming'shoe includes dovetail side walls adapted to engage the edges of plates BGIand 8?, the plate 86;tb e-. ing securedito the table l2 by the machine screws 88 or the like While the strip 8! is secured: in position by the adjusting bolts 89.. Likejtheplate 82; the shoe 85 corresponds to the widthofthe other characteristics and this also sizes the. eleroll 58 and is changed each time a differentiwidth friction element is tobe operated on in theimae chine. The underside of the shoe '85; atfthe forward edge thereof is shaped to neatlyfitnthe periphery of the drum.Z3.-' The upper; surface of the shoe at theforward end thereof is arcuiate and elongated, as indicated at 90, and providesithe forming surface. Subsequent to :passageof the friction elements between the-operating rolls they move into engagementiwith the "forming surface 98; :This surface BBiembodies an arc similar to that of the part: with which the element is to beaused and thesurface 9i? is spaced from the-periphery of theroll 58 in "such a way as too elongate the contact between I of ironing the face of the friction element engaged therewith which tends to increase the density of V this face and improve its operating qualities: The

surface 9!! is disposed on the outside of thecurve to be imparted to the element l4 but due to the compression and ironing effect of this surface cracking or other injury to the element andr a ticularly the operating surface thereof ispreventm ed. To'insure accurate alignment of the surface 90 with the periphery of the roll 58 and to pro-- vide an expeditious adjustment to determine the thickness of the material, I mount a strip 85? on the upper surface of the table l2 and provide a plurality ofadjusting screws86 in -this strip. These adjusting screws '86 engage the rearv end of the shoe 85 at.spacedyintervals, and by tightening or loosening thesescrewstherelativeposition of the shoe 85, and-therefore surface SiLto the *periphery of the roll 58 is curately determined. a 1n.

The drum 23 and the roll 58 are of substantially the same diameter and are adapted to operate synchronically. To this endsimilarly sized gears 9| and 92 are respectively secured at correspond-. ing ends of the shafts I9 and 59. An arm 93 is mounted on a pin 94 in the table 12 anda pinion 95 is alsomounted on this pin. 'I'hepinion 95 meshes WithJthe gear 9l'and with a pinion 96 mounted'on the shaft 91 fast in the arm 93. A

pinion 96 meshes with the gear'92. The'pinions 95 and 96 are of thesame size and therefore since the gears 9| and 92 are of the same size,

it is manifest that when the power is supplied through the power input shaft98 (Fig.4) to the pinion 99 mounted thereon and meshed with the gear 9|, the shafts I9. and '59,, and therefore the roll 58 and drum 23 operate synchronically. Inasmuch as the shaft 59 is adapted to be adjusted relative to the shaft 19, I-lprovidean adjustment whereby the arm 93 maybe so moved that the meshing between the pinion, 96 and the gear 92 will not be 1 affected. This adjustment for the arm 93 includes an arm [09 having a'slot l9! therein through which the bolt lilifast in the arm 93 is extended, a nut on the bolt I92 tightly clamping the arm 93 to the arm I99.

- If "the machine is to be used. to make friction elements'as well as to curve and compress the same, suitable composition material is forced between the operating rolls and a reenforcing back is passed to the rolls simultaneously with this material in exposition to engage the roll 58. As the material and back pass between the rolls, the material is compacted and united with theback to providea friction element which is curved during passage thereof over the surface 99.

- In this machine the period during which elements are subjected to pressure is prolonged and therefore the tendency to swell isrn'aterially mitigated. Moreover, the elements are curved to "conform to the shape of the parts with which another machineit is equally'adaptablefor use in the making of friction elements; Further-.- more, I have set forth a'preferred form of con struction' ando-peration but I do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifi-' cations as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims:

'I claim:

1 In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of frictionelements and the like, a pair of operating rolls mounted for engagement with friction elements passed therebetween, and forming means cooperating with one of the rolls and prolonging the period of roll engagement with the elements.

2. In a machine adapted for use inthe manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls mounted 'fore'ngagement with friction elements passed therebetween,; and forming means cooperating with one of the rolls and prolonging the period of roll engagement with the elements and having the leading edge thereof in juxtaposition to thefotherof therolls ment' on'said drum to maintain whereby the elements pass onto the forming means immediately after passing between the 3. In a machine'adapted. for use in the manufacture of friction elements andthe like, a pair of operating rolls mounted for engagement with friction elements passed therebetween, and means spaced'from one of the rolls andv including aforming surface formed-complementary to said one roll and'positioned'relative thereto to prolong the period of roll engagement with said elements to imparta curve to the elements passed beprolong the period of roll engagement with said elements and adapted to impart a curve to elements passing thereover, and'means adjustably securingsaid shoe in the. machine.

5. In a'machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls'mounted for engagement with elements passed therebetween, one of said rolls comprising a drum and having flanges between which the other of the rolls is adapted to be fittedgand means associated with said drum for varying. the spacing between said flanges.

6. In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operatingrolls of different widths mounted for engagement withelementspassed therebetween, the wider of said rolls comprising a drum having a flange'at one end thereof, a sleeve mounted on said drum and having a flange thereon adapted to be spaced from the flange on said drum whereby the edges. of the narrower roll may be fitted' between said flanges, and meansfor holding said sleeve against axial movethe spacing between'said flanges. g a .'7:.'- In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls of different widths mounted for engagementwith elements passed therebetween, the wider of. said rolls comprising a drum having a flange at'on'e' end thereof, a sleeve mounted onsaid drum and having, a flange thereon adapted to be spaced from the flange on said drum whereby the edges of the narrower roll may be fitted between said flanges, means for adjusting said sleeve axially along said drum, and means for holding said'sleeve' in adjusted positions on said drum.

8. In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements'and the like, a pair of operating rolls of different widths mounted for engagementwith elements passed therebetween, the wider'bf said rolls comprising a drum of operating rolls of different widths mounted for engagement with elements passed therebetween, the wider of said rolls comprising a drum having a flange at one end thereof, asleeve mounted on said drum and having'a flange thereon'adapted to be spaced from the flange on said drum whereby the edges of the narrower roll may be fittedbetween said flangeameans *connectingsaid sleeve to said drum for rotation therewith and axial movement thereof, shafts connected to said sleeve for axial. movement therewith, means screw-threadedly connecting said shafts .to said drum, and means for rotating said shafts tomove said sleeve axially jo'fisaid drum. i c 10 In a machine adapted for usein the manufacture of friction elements and the like,;a;pair

of operating rolls of different widths mounted forg'engagement with elements passed therebetween, the wider of said rolls comprising adrum .having a flange at one end thereof, a sleeve mounted: on said drum and having a flange there,-

on'adaptedto be spaced from the flange on said drum whereby the edges'of the narrower roll may be fitted between said flanges, means connecting said sleeve to said drum for rotation therewith and axial movement thereof, shafts connected to said sleeve for axial movement therewith, means screw-threadedly connecting said shafts to said drum, means for rotating said shafts to move said sleeve axially of said drum,

and means for holding the rotating means against movement to secure said sleeve in adjusted positions on said drum. a

11. In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls of difierent widths and adapted for engagement with elements passed therebetween, the narrower of said rolls corresponding in width to the width of elements being operated upon in the machine, means removably supporting said narrower roll in the machine whereby said roll may be changed upon'variation in the width of elements to be operated-upon in the machine, the wider of the rolls having a fixed flange thereon and another flange adjustable relative to the fixed flange whereby the narrower roll may be fitted between said flanges, one of the edges of the narrower of said rolls being engaged with the fixed flange on the wider of said rolls when the narrower of said rolls "is changed upon variation of the width of elements to be operated upon in the machine to thereby orient the narrower roll in the machine, means on the wider of said rolls for securing the adjustable flange in position thereon and in engagement with the edge of the narrower of the rolls opposite the edge thereof engaging the fixed flange, a pair of guide rails for directing the elements to the rolls for passage therebetween, means fixedly securing one of said rails in the machine in alignment with the fixed flange, and'means adjustably securing the other of the rails in the machine in alignment with the adjustable flange.

12. In a machine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls of different widths and adapted for engagement with elements passed therebetween, the wider or" said rolls having flanges thereon, the narrower of said rolls corresponding in width to the width of elements being operated on in the machine and being-positioned relative to the flanges on the wider roll, means removably supporting said narrower roll whereby it may be changed upon variation in the. width wider roll, means removably suppgrtingsaid n guide rail fast in the machine align one edge of said narrower roll anda flang the .wider roll, an adjustable guid ii i theother guide rail to; providea; guid w 5 elements passing to the rolls, and-adjustable means securing ,s aidjadjustableguide. rail in position] and, permitting adjustment H justable-guide rail when saidr narro errro changed upon variation inthe of elements.

13. In a machine adapted iorIuse thelg-rnanu- .facture of friction elements the lik e apair of operating rollsoi different widths and adapt,-

edfor engagement with elements passedtlierebe tween, the wider of said rOllSQhaving flange thereon and an adjustable flange,';m securing the ,adjustablecflange in fadjusted p0 tions relative to the, fixed-flange, thel'narro er and being position ed between the flanges on -.the

rower roll whereby it maybe-changed pon ation in the width of the elements, to be perate d on in the machine, said adjustable flange on said wider rollbeing adjusted relative to the fixed flange upon a change in the width of the narrower roll, a guide rail fast in the machine and aligned with one edge of the narrower roll and the fixed flange on the wider roll,'an adjustable guiderail in the machine adapted to be aligned with the other edge of. said narrower roll and with thejadjustable flange on said wider roll and cooperating with the fixed guide rail to provide a guideway for elements passing to the rolls, and means securing said adjustable rail in position and permitting adjustment of said adjustable guide'rail when said narrowerroll is changed and theposition of said adjustable flange is almachine adapted to be aligned with the; ther edge of said narrowerroll and cooper ofelements to be operated on in the machine, ,a ."th

of said rollscorresponding inwidth orthe width of 7 elements L being operated on in the machine being operated upon in the machine, means re-' movably supporting said one roll whereby it may be changed upon variation in the width of elements to be operated upon in the machine, a plate over which the elements pass during moveporting said plate and including a fixed member L and a member adjustable relative thereto, said fixed and adjustable members andsaid plate including interfitting dovetailportions extending in the direction of movement of said elements to said rolls and providing a rigid support for said plate, and means for securing the adjustable member in position and adapted to be released to permit substitution of a new plate upon a change of the roll corresponding in width to the width of the'elements whereby the plate may be changed when there is a variation in width of elements tobe operated upon in the machine.

15. In amachine'adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operatingrolls adapted for engagement with elements passedtherebetween, one of said rolls correspondingyin width to the Width of elements being operated on in the'machine, means removablysupporting said one roll whereby it may be changed upon variation in the width of elements to be operated'on in the machine, and means corresponding in widthto said one roll and having a forming surface thereon cooperating with said one rollto prolong engagement of the elements with said one roll to impart a curve "to elements passing thereover. I r

corresponding in-width to said one roll and'havinga forming surface thereon cooperating with said one rollto impart acurve to elements passing ithereover,"- and means 'adjustably securing said curvingmeans in position and permitting erated on in the machine.

substitution of-a new curving means upon change of said one roll when there is a variation in the width of elements to be operated on in the machine. v i

17. In amachine adapted for use in the manufacture of friction elements and the like, a pair of operating rolls adaptedfor engagement with elements passed therebetween, one of said rolls corresponding in width to the width of elements being operated on in the machine, means removably supporting said one roll whereby it may be changed upon variation in the width of elements to be operated on in the machine, a shoe mounted in juxtaposition to said rolls and adapted to be engaged by elements passing from said rolls and including a forming surface spaced from-said one roll and cooperating therewith to impart a curve to elements passing thereover, said shoe corresponding in width to the width of elements being operated on in the machine,

and adjustable means for detachably securing said shoe inposition whereby a new shoe maybe installed upon change of said one roll when there is a variation in thewidth of elements to be op- HARRY MsMrrHI 

